Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-20
ArATIONAL MILITIA.
The proposaIto Hold Gotsysburg
National Grand Eueamp-
npnt I'm 1883.

THf PrOpesat 10 ftoiN ~ o'tsJ 'p"'-
National Grand Eueamp-
ment In 1883.
A Philadelphia telegram says: The
suggestion thrown out in the Press OF
this city by General Il. b. Irwin for
holding an interstate national-guard
camp on the Gettysburg battlefield
rext wear has attracted some attention.
General Irwin estimates that If each
State should furnish an average OF
three companies OF infantry for each
congressional district there would be
assembled about 40 regiments,
which. at an effective of zoo each,
would give 1900 in all. If a light
battery or troop OF cavalry should count
for three companies of infantry, and
tyentvfour suth G-gun batteries and
thirty-tvo troops of cavalry should be
accepted, there would then be, even
with but ninety-six regiments OF In
fantry. a total force OF $1,000 infantry,
$500 artillery, and 5000 cavalry, or an
aggregate of ~, 800 men. This would
allow twenty-four brigades of four
regiments each, with battery at
tached to each brigade. These, in
turn, could form eight divisions,
consisting of three brigades and three
batteries each, with battalion OF
cavalry Of four troops. The Governors OF
States would appoint officers up to and
including brigadier- generals, while the
division commanders and their staff
would be appointed 10y the President.
The whole force would be mustered into
the service of the United States and re-
ceive pay, allowances, and transporta-
ton. The President would appoint an
| Acknowledgement and inspcctor-general
To carry the plan into effect, and Con-
cress would have to make an appropria-
ton for expenses. The project con-
| templates al annual encampment, to be
| held in different States in successive
wears. so as to create a national militia,
whose members will be accustomed to
act together in the field.
The suggestion is an interesting one,
| although there are obstacles to carrying
| il into effect. One Of them is the ex-
pense of maintaining and transporting
SO large body OF troops, moving some
of them thousands OF miles in order to
perform evolutions in which few
score general and staff officers would
be mainly concerned. The pri-
vats soldier moves precisely the
same in the mannuvre OF regiment as
in the manouvre of corps; and the
instruction Of few guides and markers
and the experience to be derived by stall
officers in the tenting, feeding, and
handling of so large a body would per
haps seem to be acquired at too heavy
an expense. 1t might be argued IN
Congress that an equal amount oil
money could be more proftably eX'
pended upon the militia in some Other
way. Still. this objection could be
diminished by adopting eight annual
division encampments at as many dit
fcrent points throughout the country
or even twenty-four brigade encamp'
mcnts
| A second objection, which might
prove quite as potent, is that many ex
existing organizations. formed nndel
State laws, would hesitate to be merged
in a national militia. The force to bC
assembled in the Gettysburg plar
nearly equals the aggregate OF the uni
formed militia OF the States, and 90
yiousIy contemplates including this, a
it would not be practicable to organic
other forces in season for an encamp
ment on the lst of July next. But ex
uerience has shown that some existing
organizations, jealous Of their charte
privileges, oppose national militia legis
iation introduced into Congress. Thu
opposition would be reinforced by tn
fact that the national encampmen
would take the place of the much
rrizcd State encampments, since tim
could not he spared for both IN tn
| same year.
Still, we find General Sheridan in on
Of bis official reports pronouncing i
favor of Matchmaking the State militia
and ofholding national entampmenl
such as General Irwin proposes. IL
would also have Congress designate tn
number of men to be enrolled IN tn
National Guard of each State, and VIII
ever studies the subject must see tha
the modern tendency is toward I'M
I formity in the State organizations an
toward fitting them for service tC
, gether in the field. One such ind
cation is the assignment oil arm
officers to inspect the annual IN
} htla encampments, aud to repo
upon them. This practice, a growth
recent years, not only secures the Sc
a vices of experienced professional SO
diers, but judges all the encampmen'
a by a common standard. The indies
c ton of merits and the pointing out
c faults and shortcomings year after We;
d by inspectors free from local prep
L dices produces a gradual and marke
: uniformity. A second influence is Il
n recent doubling of the annual milIt
appropriation OF Congress, whose oil
tribution is made subject to
u few common rules. These cond
tons may be gradually increase
by Congress, with the result OF pr
!. ducing still greater uniformity. III
= Slocum bill may not soon be enacte
! but We shall probably find commc
:, service dress eventually adopted, WI
= common service equipments. We ms
eventually find all the small arms us'
= by thu militia of uniform callbie; cor
T. pulsofy annual camps of instrnchC
= everywhere training in ritle-shootil
:, made imperative a common system
= organizing AID disciplining adopte
= with common administration and dri
'' Such degree of naturalization
pretty sure to come, whatever may
the decision upon interstate encam
ments.